I have to say, I never expected to enjoy such a slow paced anime film, I'll tell ya it made me crave to watch even more! I even love Giovanni and Campanella's bromance throughout their journey on a train. I thought the English dub actors Veronica Taylor (who voiced Ash in Pokemon) and Crispin Freeman (who voiced Alucard in Hellsing) were absouletly excellent in voicing the cat's! There were some scenes that nearly made me cry which was the titanic scenes and Campanella abandoning Giovanni even if he promised that they'll stay together forever. With the titanic scenes, I have never expected this anime would show a bit of Irish tragedy because like most anime, it concentrates solely on Japan. Although this does concentrate on Japan but it managed to involve a European tragedy that's part of our history which is amazing but very sad! The children who boarded the train with Giovanni and Campanella were going to heaven. Honestly typing that last sentence there is making my eyes nearly water because so many children have lost their lives on that fateful day. When the 3 children left on the next stop to the heavens gate, my heart sank like i didn't want them to get off the train at all!As for Campanella, I was so mad and upset that he left Giovanni on the train. I know he had to attend to his mother and like it seems he didn't want to leave his buddy behind as he did cry when Giovanni considered him a best friend. I swear, them two are just the best kitties ever like i definately would name my cats if i ever get two named Giovanni and Campanella haha.I do have to say for this anime, I wouldn't recommend this to children younger then 12 because it is pretty slow moving and could get bored straight away. However it depends on every kids personality but in general, I would rather show this one to tweens in my personal opinon. Brilliant anime, it was very well done especially since I'm a cat lover lol. 9/10 I give it!

This film is up there with all of Miyazaki's works, including "Spirited Away," "Princess Mononoke," and "My Neighbour Totoro."It has a very surreal quality and a deceptive cuteness to it, which may trick you into thinking it trite or superficial. However, like some of the best Anime out there, "cute" can leave you open to some horrifying consequences. Obviously it's not as heavy as "Grave of the Fireflies" or as light hearted and uplifting as "Totoro", but this film lies somewhere in between. I haven't read the book, but I'll bet it's similar in theme and scope to "Le Petit Prince" by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.I'm certainly not a Christian, and often tire easily when confronted by blatant Christian imagery in film, literature, and music. However, this film requires a degree of spirituality to get its point across, and the Christian images present, while overpowering at times, represent a nebulous kind of spirituality -- as if it's saying "there is a force out there which helps determine our fates, but I can't define what it is."For example, the film takes place in some alternate European world (most likely Italy) and the characters have Italian names. But they're anthropomorphic cats and don't appear to practice any kind of Christianity (they celebrate moon festivals, and sail lantern boats in the river). However, they later meet up with human children on the train, and listen to Christian hymns on the wireless ("Nearer my God to Thee"). They pass several different layers of Heaven, and Giovani, the main character, has a special ticket that allows him passage to "the one True Heaven".The film, like the train, takes its time to get where it's going, and some powerful messages come across to the viewer. Unlike many Anime and Western films, this one does not end with a happy and neatly tied-up ending, nor does it take pains to explain the things that go on inside the train. It leaves that to the viewer. This is what makes good art films. This is what makes a film worthwhile.

This by far is the best anime I have ever seen. With its slow moving and oft disturbing plot this is not a movie for everyone, especial the adolescent/short attention span types who have only seen slasher/action examples of anime.This movie is so slow yet it sucks you in and you can't stop watching. I have never heard or seen anything like it and I don't think I ever will again. No movie I have ever seen has affected me half as much. Its amazing visuals, sounds and eerie plot make this fascinating movie hard to describe and do justice to it.This movie definitely deserves a 10 out of 10.P.S. If you are the crying type have tissues handy.

I'm usually pretty conservative when it comes to dishing out stars, but this is one of the few films to which I would give ten without hesitation. The original story (by Japanese children's author Kenji Miyazawa) is a masterpiece in itself, but Sugii's screen interpretation is nothing short of amazing. Some of the best scenes are the quietest, such as when the protagonist is setting type in the printer's shop, or when he goes to the dairy to get milk and finds only an old woman there. Thought-provoking and moving, this is one I pull off my shelf and watch every couple of years.